Explosive and Harmful Impulses: A Subset of Child and Adolescent-to-Parent Violence and Abuse

Rutter, Nikki

Abstract

"Filial harm" refers to harms experienced by a parent and caused by their child, with increasing umbrella terminology developing to capture all forms of harm despite differing experiences and contexts. In this paper, based on a Glaserian Grounded Theory study underpinned by participatory research principles, this work utilized diaries and interactive interviews with 34 parents and arts-based workshops with 21 children to develop a new terminology and approach to child and adolescent-to-parent violence and abuse when harm does not have a clear intent. Explosive and harmful impulses refer to preadolescents experiencing proactive, reactive, affective, and relational harms and needs. These specific forms of filial harm are based upon underlying needs, and the maladaptive ways children may attempt to meet their needs result in filial harm as an unintended consequence rather than being a form of harm with intent. Using an approach that captures subsections of filial harm, there is opportunity to better represent the nuance of individual family experiences and could provide more appropriate language and interventions that better represent the language used by families themselves. Future interventions, support pathways, and research with families living with explosive and harmful impulses could use the provided framework to understand why children are attempting to meet their needs in harmful ways and to consider less harmful methods of support.

Citation

Rutter, N. (2024). Explosive and Harmful Impulses: A Subset of Child and Adolescent-to-Parent Violence and Abuse. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605241244470

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 8, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Apr 9, 2024
• Publication Date: Apr 9, 2024
• Deposit Date: Apr 10, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 10, 2024
• Journal: Journal of Interpersonal Violence
• Print ISSN: 0886-2605
• Electronic ISSN: 1552-6518
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605241244470
• Keywords: DD offenders, anything related to domestic violence, youth violence, developmentally delayed, vulnerability to abuse, domestic violence
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2381305